Eventually, UT will drill to help its bottom line

As a retired petroleum engineering educator and admitted hands-on "fracker," I was both amused and concerned about the editorial, "Failure of UT drilling deal is for the best," Sept. 17. As you said, even CONSOL Energy thought it was a hill too steep to climb at this time.

I've been in the natural gas business since the early 1960s. The current price decline is the inevitable result of more supply than demand. This decline has had a positive effect in nearly every aspect of our everyday lives, from lower utility bills to cleaner air.

Since 2008, I have annually appraised a state university's mineral endowment and can assure you that having such an endowment adds to the bottom line in the "business" of being a university. UT knows this, and they know gas royalties can offset declining state support for UT in the years ahead, thereby mitigating inevitable increases in tuition.

UT can develop their gas resources without undue disruption to their research mission. Rest assured that the Morgan and Scott county acreage will be tested, and possibly developed if and when the gas price allows it.

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Eventually, UT will drill to help its bottom line

As a retired petroleum engineering educator and admitted hands-on ?fracker,? I was both amused and concerned about the editorial, ?Failure of UT drilling deal is for the best,? Sept. 17.